Lonelyville?
No way that’s going to work, friends told Sara Nahas and Kallan
Kagan when they mentioned the name they’d chosen for their new
coffee shop.
But the pair wouldn’t budge.
"We knew as soon as people saw the place they’d understand
the irony," says Kagan. She was right. The convivial spaced
opened on April 2 and already there’s a gang of regulars who
stop in for coffee, snacks and the inspiring view of Prospect
Park.
The coffee shop, named for a community on Fire Island, has a
distinctly 1940s feeling. Nahas, whose parents are antique dealers,
designed the shelving to display her colorful collection of vintage
thermoses. Six enameled tables and mismatched chairs, culled
from flea markets, make inviting seating in front of the fireplace.
"It’ll be great come winter," said Kallan.
Behind the counter, the women and their six employees serve the
best coffee in the neighborhood.
"When we decided to open the shop two years ago, we went
to Seattle and took a course to become certified baristas,"
said Nahas, who developed the shop’s special dark roast blend.
Besides a great cup of java, they offer equally good cappuccino,
espresso and lattes, and a large selection of herbal teas.
Old-fashioned glass cake servers hold H & H Bagels as well
as muffins and pastries from the Greystone Bakery in Yonkers.
Their salads, yogurt parfaits and house-made soups utilize organic
dairy products and produce.
By late May, their liquor license should arrive, so the neighborhood’s
moms, artists and writers can enjoy a leisurely glass of wine
or beer.
Lonelyville (154 Prospect Park Southwest between Seeley and Vanderbilt
streets in Windsor Terrace) accepts MasterCard and Visa. Coffee
and tea: $1.50-$2; baked goods: $2; soups: $3.50-$4.50; salads
and yogurt parfaits: $3.50-$4.50. The shop is open from 7 am
to 7 pm, Monday through Saturday, and 8 am to 7 pm on Sundays.
For information, call (718) 854-4279.
NOT SO LONELY
